January 2018 Spectrum

share this:

Dear Friends,

With the New Year upon us, it only seems appropriate to reflect and look back at our unforgettable year. Together, our staff, board members, volunteers and community partners have helped to create opportunities for the people we serve right here in Hutchinson. I’m immensely proud of the work our team and the great strides the people we serve have made. Here is a look back at the close of 2017 and a few of my favorite year-end highlights:

All TECH Cookout | The All TECH Cookout is a gathering of friends! Every October, the TECH Staff hosts a large Cookout at our Avenue B location for the people we serve,their families and staff. I love seeing the smiling faces that come through the line as we serve lunch. This year, we had over 200 people attend the Cookout!

Adopt-a-Client | It is our goal to make sure that the individuals we serve have gifts under the tree on Christmas morning; not just any gifts, but items that are chosen especially for them! Through the Adopt-a-Client program and the help of giving individuals in our community, we are able to help make that happen!

This year, we had 47 clients that were adopted by local families, businesses, board members and staff. I am continually humbled by the outpouring of support for this program and our community’s dedication to ensuring individuals at TECH have a Christmas they won’t forget. Read more on Adopt-a-Client here.

Recycling beats 1,000,000 pounds | We have a contract with Kroger, a company that had the initiative to recycle all of their plastic bags. When we began that contract four or five years ago, we started out doing 64,000 pounds a month. In 2017, we broke the 1,000,000 pound mark! What exactly does 1,000,000 pounds of plastic look like? That’s 69,170,866 individual grocery sacks. If you laid them flat, they would cover 2,382 acres! Between recycling and our damaged goods center, we are able to provide work for 20 clients on a daily basis. We have a lot of folks that can be successful and at the end of the day feel great about what they are doing!

Welcoming of New Board Members | In December we bid farewell to three dedicated Corporate and Foundation board members, opening the door for four new additions to the boards. To read more on each of our new board members, click here.

In 2018, we will remain dedicated to providing the best quality of service to the people we serve as well as the most opportunities to live life to the fullest. With the support of our Board of Directors, our dedicated staff and community partners, we will do great things! I am deeply proud of the work we have done and how bright our future is.